Vero Volley: A Revolution Underway—Stefano Lavarini Is No Longer the Coach
Stefano Lavarini is no longer the head coach of Numia Vero Volley Milano. Having joined the team in the summer of 2024, the Piedmontese coach led the team on a run that saw it reach two consecutive Scudetto finals, third-place finishes in both the 2024–2025 CEV Champions League and the 2024 World Club Championship, and, most notably, victory in the Italian Super Cup on October 18, 2025, in Trieste, defeating Conegliano. This victory marked a historic moment for the city of Milan, bringing it its first national volleyball trophy in 80 years.
At the same time, the working relationships between Numia Vero Volley and Andrea Mafrici—assistant coach—and Kacper Duda—scout—will also come to an end.
“The entire Vero Volley organization bids a fond and respectful farewell to Stefano Lavarini and his staff, thanking them for their professionalism and the values they instilled during our two seasons together, and wishing them the very best in their future careers,” reads the statement released by the Lombardy-based club.
Specifically, the 2025–2026 season kicked off with a victory in the Fineco Super Cup at the PalaTrieste, where Milan defeated Prosecco Doc A. Carraro Imoco Conegliano, ending the Panthers’ streak of seven consecutive titles in the competition. This triumph was built on a deeply revamped roster, with Paola Egonu named captain for the first time in her career and many new faces integrated into the team: from setter Francesca Bosio to American Khalia Lanier, as well as Rebecca Piva and Benedetta Sartori. On the eve of that final, Lavarini himself had summed up the moment as follows: “Against Conegliano, everything starts from scratch: the teams are renewed, the emotions are renewed, and we start anew with fresh ambitions. Taking the court for such an important trophy acts as a catalyst for us; it spurs us on to give even more.”
The European campaign in the 2024–2025 CEV Champions League, on the other hand, had been one of the highlights of Lavarini’s tenure during his first season on the Milan bench. Milan finished in third place, defeating VakifBank Istanbul 3-1 in the bronze medal match, with Paola Egonu leading all scorers with 21 points. At the end of that match, the coach offered a clear-eyed assessment and looked ahead to the future: “Today marks the end of a season in which, across all competitions, we were only stopped by Conegliano. This only serves to further boost our motivation to start over and try to succeed as soon as possible.”
His second season at the helm, however, ended with a loss to Conegliano in the Scudetto final, in a series that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the very end. Game 1 at the PalaVerde ended in a tiebreaker in favor of the Pantere, in a match also marked by Egonu’s calf injury in the fourth set, which forced the captain to leave the court on several occasions during the decisive moments of the match. Despite the difficulties, Milan had proven it could compete on equal footing with the Italian champions, confirming the progress of the project launched with Lavarini’s arrival.
The club’s decision to prioritize continuity in the transfer market also attests to the strength of the team built over the past two years. Khalia Lanier, the team’s second-leading scorer in the 2025–2026 season with a total of 493 points across domestic and European competitions, has been re-signed for her third consecutive year with the pink-and-blue squad. “I’m truly very happy to continue my journey with Numia Vero Volley Milano,” said the American outside hitter. “Italy has become a second home for me, and I’m grateful to be able to play in one of the most competitive leagues in the world—and especially for a club like Milan.” This is a clear sign that, despite the coaching change, the Lombardy-based club’s athletic program remains focused on competing at the highest level in the 2026–2027 season as well.
